The Chehlum of Imam Husain and his companions is being observed across Pakistan today with due reverence and solemnity. Processions of zuljanah and tazias in various major cities with hundreds of mourners accompanying them and reciting nohas were marching as security in major cities was beefed up.
On Friday, the Interior Ministry deployed armed troops in all four provinces including Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir under Section 4(3)(i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
A Central Control Room has also been established at the ministry to monitor the overall security situation in the country.
Karachi
The main procession in Karachi, which was taken out from Nishtar Park at 1pm, will pass through its traditional route and culminate at Husanian Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar.
Separately, a procession was also taken out from the Imambargah in Martin Quarters earlier in the day. It will join the main procession at Nishtar Park at 2pm on M.A. Jinnah Road from Gurumandir.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police have said that the main procession of the day has passed in the city peacefully.
“All Shia-Sunni gatherings, processions and gatherings in Muharram and Safar are safe. Spreading religious confusion and propaganda on social media should be avoided. Legal action can be taken against those who spread mental confusion and propaganda,” it tweeted.
The police have chalked out a traffic plan and deployed more than 3,600 police and 236 wardens on Saturday.
As part of the traffic plan, diversions will be placed at 12 points while snipers will be deployed on rooftops, streets, roads along the routes of the processions. Other roads will be sealed with razor wire and barricades.
